Joshua Morales has quickly become one of Cerritos College’s top distance runners after finishing second in the 10,000 meters at the 3C2A State Championships. Even more impressive, the race was only his third time competing in the event, showing just how much potential he still has as a long-distance runner.
“I’m hurting a little bit, I’m not gonna lie,” Morales said after crossing the finish line. “But I was pretty happy. First year running this event, so I think I have a lot more potential.”
Going into the race, Morales said his biggest goal was to stay with the leaders and help keep the pace fast. Even though the race was one of the most competitive of the season, he stayed confident throughout and trusted the work he had put in during cross-country and track seasons.
“I was just trying to stick with the leaders,” Morales said. “I wanted it to be a fast race.”
That confidence did not come out of nowhere. Morales has had a breakout year for Cerritos College and has steadily improved in both cross country and track. During cross country season, Morales made one of the biggest jumps on the team, moving up over 100 spots in the 3C2A, proving he could compete with some of the top runners in California community college competition.
“I think all the mileage from cross country helped a lot,” Morales said. “It gave me confidence knowing I had the strength for longer races.”
His strong cross country season carried directly into track season, where he continued lowering his times in multiple events. Morales showed versatility throughout the year by competing in races ranging from the 800 meters all the way to the 10k. He ran a personal best of 14:57 in the 5,000 meters and continued improving in the mile and longer distance events.
Morales has also built a reputation as one of the hardest-working athletes on the Cerritos roster. Teammates and coaches consistently praise the effort and discipline he brings every day at practice. Whether it is early morning runs, difficult workouts or balancing school with training, Morales has stayed committed throughout the season. His ability to compete at a high level in both cross country and track has made him one of the most valuable runners in the Cerritos distance program.
“They’ve been there with me throughout the season pushing me,” Morales said about his teammates. “I’m just very grateful to be here. It’s a very good program.”
While many people only see the races and results, Morales explained that the life of a college distance runner can be physically and mentally exhausting. Between workouts, recovery and academics, there is very little downtime during the season.
“It’s hard every day putting in the work and staying on top of school,” Morales said. “Sometimes you’re working out two or three times a day and still have homework to do.”
Even after earning a state medal, Morales says he is far from satisfied. He plans to continue running after transferring to a four-year university and hopes to keep improving in the 5k and 10k.
Looking back on the year, Morales said one of the moments he is most proud of was his cross country state race because of how much he improved from the previous season.
After state, Morales said he plans to take a short break before immediately returning to summer training, including altitude training, to prepare for the upcoming cross country season. With the amount of progress he has already made in only one year, Morales has proven that he is still improving and may only be scratching the surface of what he can accomplish.
“I think I still have a lot more left,” Morales said.
